Syrian community in Russia commemorates Evacuation Day

Moscow-(ST)- The Syrian Embassy in Moscow, the Syrian Arab Community Association, the branch of the National Union of Syrian Students, and the Arab Socialist Baath Party Organization in the Russian Federation commemorated the Evacuation Day during a celebration at the embassy headquarters in Moscow that talked about the meanings of this occasion.

Syria’s ambassador to the Russian Federation, Dr. Bashar al-Jaafari, stressed in a speech during the celebration that independence was a military and political achievement that did not allow the French colonialists to obtain any gains in exchange for withdrawal, explaining that the price of this independence is the struggle of the Syrian people, who  expelled the occupation forces from their lands without making any concessions.

Al-Jaafari said: “Throughout the path of our struggle against the colonialists, the former Soviet Union and then the Russian Federation were the best friend and ally of Syria, and there were well-established stations of cooperation between the two countries on the path of friendship, which is a story woven with the golden threads of history and in which stations have continued and strengthened in the current period in all political and military fields  economic, cultural, and combating terrorism.

Al-Jaafari explained that Syria did not hesitate to return the favor to Russian friends on every crucial occasion until bilateral relations reached their peak today during the era of Presidents Bashar al-Assad and Vladimir Putin, especially in facing the serious challenges facing the two countries and confronting the same dangers and enemies.

In turn, the Palestinian Ambassador to Moscow, Dr. Abdel Hafeez Nofal, congratulated the Syrian leadership and people on this occasion, stressing that Syria means a lot to Palestine and its people and has formed a pivotal supportive situation in helping Palestine and will remain so forever, wishing it and its people victory over the challenges it faces.

For his part, the head of the Russian-Syrian Foundation “Russar” and a member of the leadership of the Palestinian Imperial Orthodox Society, Oleg Fomin, conveyed congratulations to the Syrian leadership and the Syrian people on the occasion of Evacuation Day, stressing that Syria is the beating heart of Arabism and that it has provided continuous support to the struggle of the Palestinian people at all stages and continues to do so. At the same time, it continues its war against international terrorism supported by the collective West, led by the United States.

Fomin stressed that Russia stands by the Syrian people to overcome the challenges they face and that it will continue this support in all economic, political and diplomatic fields.

Ali Hammoud delivered a speech by the Russian Veterans Organization in Syria, in which he stressed the unlimited support of Russian citizens for the Syrian people in the fight against terrorism and in their struggle to preserve their state’s sovereignty, freedom, and the independence of its national decision-making.

Andrei Shkurko, a member of the Moscow organization of the All-Russian Popular Front, said in a statement to a SANA reporter: “I came with my friends to express our solidarity with Syria and its heroic people and to stand by its side in the difficult moments it is going through,” stressing the need to support Syria politically and militarily in its struggle against the American occupation and Israeli attacks. Repeatedly and against the economic sanctions imposed by the West on the Syrian people.

In a similar statement, the head of the National Karate Association and a member of the leadership of the Russian Martial Arts Association, Alexei Dolgov, expressed the Russian people’s support for the Syrian people and said: “With all our strength and capabilities, we provide support to Syria and condemn the American policy in the region and its unlimited support for the Israeli orgy and its criminal practices against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.” “We also condemn the Israeli aggression that violates all international diplomatic norms and laws against the Iranian consulate in Damascus,” stressing that the Russian people stand strong and shoulder to shoulder with the Syrian people in their struggle. Members of the Syrian community in Russia and their Russian friends participated in the celebration, who stressed that the evacuation will remain an extension of the victory in Syria and the heroism and sacrifices of the proud Syrian Arab Army.

Hanan Shamout